I think this is front page worthy

Facebook announced at its annual F8 developer conference, held in San Francisco on April 12 and 13 that the company partnered with many African developers to launch products for the global market.
Facebook, with its global reach and scale, is including African developers in its beta testing programme for the launch of new global products and features as it increases its presence and deepens its partnerships on the continent.
F8 hosts more than 2,600 people and hundreds of thousands of people watching via Facebook Live for two days of new products, tools, interactive demos and speakers to help developers build, grow and monetize their apps. And, more than 70 per cent of Facebook’s developer partners are located outside the United States and about a third of the attendees at F8 joined from abroad.
“We believe that local entrepreneurs and developers will be the ones to meet the needs of their immediate community, and we are working with developers to know how we can support them in doing so,” says Emeka Afigbo, Strategic Product Partnerships Manager at Facebook. “We are listening to our developer partners in Africa, and the strong showing for F8 is a reflection of our commitment to doing more with our partners across the continent to help them build products and businesses.”
African developers, who partnered with Facebook to launch products at F8 include Afrinolly (Entertainment, Nigeria), GumTree South Africa (Classifieds, South Africa), vZikoko (Entertainment, Nigeria), Jobberman (Jobs, Nigeria/Ghana), The Net (Entertainment, Nigeria) and My Music (Media, Nigeria).


In addition, this year Facebook brought F8 to developers around the world through F8 Meetups hosted with tech hubs around the world. In Africa, we hosted F8 Meetups in Nairobi, Lagos, Cape Town and Morocco where participants watched the sessions in San Francisco.
Two developer teams from Malawi won a developer challenge supported by mobile operator TNM Malawi and Facebook, and were featured on F8’s international stage. Maternitech, founded by three 22-year olds – Walter Moyo, Thandie Magasa, and Daniel Mvalo, provides educational information aimed at combating Malawi’s high under-18 pregnancy rate. The team was featured in an international livestream interview.
Talk To Me, an app created by 10-year old Panashe Jere, who learned to code at a Coding for Kids session at Malawi Hub. This app converts input text into voice so children always have someone to talk to. Both teams were congratulated by Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg personally for their achievements.



http://www.premiumtimesng.com/business/201832-nigerians-african-developers-shine-facebooks-annual-f8-conference.html

Chukwuemeka Afigbo, a program manager in the developer ecosystems team at Google was recently featured on the Google YouTube series called "Coffee with a Googler" where he spoke about some of the initiatives that Google is carrying out in the region.

Some of the things he spoke about were:
- The Offline Google Developer Kits pilot project
- The Google UX masterclass series for Sub Saharan Africa
- Some of the initiatives by Google during the last elections

You can see the complete video of the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23VkZ4p0gqo

Google is excited to be reaching out to you about the upcoming 2015 Sub Saharan Africa UX Masterclass we are hosting in Nairobi (April 27th and 28th) , Cape Town (May 5th and 6th) and Lagos (May 1st and 2nd) .

At Google, We believe that an Internet made up of websites and applications designed with the user in mind will lead to a better experience overall for users, regardless culture, language, location, or how they access the internet, thus resulting in a thriving technology community. This is why designers from the UX team at Google will be visiting Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa to conduct a hands-on user experience masterclass to help you and your team apply the best practices of UX design to your new and existing projects.

The masterclass will run for two days , with each day targeted at two different audiences.

Day 1 for New Product Teams

Day 1 will equip teams who are working on launching a new product with fundamentals of the UX Process and tips on Product Launch such as:

- Understanding your users
- Crystallizing your product vision
- Idea generation and paper prototyping
- Planning your next steps: from designs to launch

Day 2: Post Launch Product Teams

Day 2 will focus on helping teams who have publicly launched products to apply the fundamentals of UX to their next product iteration. The sessions will include:

- Understanding your users
- Identifying improvements to your product
- Iterating on designs
- Planning your next steps: launching improvements and measuring success

At the end of the Masterclass your team will come away with a clear picture of what needs to be done to take your new or existing project to the next level as well as a clear action plan to help you get there.
We're very excited about this event and hope you are interested in joining us!

Please indicate your team’s interest in attending with this link https://events.withgoogle.com/sub-saharan-africa-ux-masterclass-2015/pages/apply/.

See more info: https://events.withgoogle.com/sub-saharan-africa-ux-masterclass-2015

See video of last year's class in Nairobi:
https://youtu.be/jxWedPTxk8E

If you are a programmer / software engineer and would like to get to the pinnacle of your chosen career, you should know a thing or two about the the topics covered in the article below:

"In this article, you will see classic what every programmer should know article from topics like memory, Unicode, floating point arithmetic, networking, object oriented design, time, URL Encoding, String and many more. This list is very important for beginner and newcomers, as they are the ones, who lacks practical knowledge. Since most of these post are actually driven by practical knowledge, beginner and intermediate programmers can take a lot from it. Also getting knowledge of fundamentals early in career helps to avoid mistakes, which has done by other programmers and software developers on their course of learning. Though it’s not easy to grasp all knowledge given in these articles in just one reading. You almost certainly won’t understand some details about floating point number or get confused with subtle details of memory, but it’s important to keep these list handy and refer them time to time with a context."

http://www.improgrammer.net/10-articles-every-programmer-must-read/

Thank you to everyone who signed up for the CSS Design Challenge. There have been some really awesome entries. Big thanks to all contestants who have sent theirs in.

They are extending the deadline by two weeks -the new closing date is November 14.

They got a LOT of feedback today so we are doing this for four reasons -

1. Upload Problem - Server Timeouts
They also got a number of complaints - some people have had problems uploading their designs.

They found out that this problem usually happens when due to slow internet and/or big file size the design takes longer than one minute to upload. They are creating a workaround right now.

2. Upload Problem - incorrect folder structure
The correct folder structure is
/assets
/assets/styles.css
/assets/img
/assets/fonts
/assets/css

The upload bit searches for the presence of a styles.css in the assets folder. The assets folder should be in the root of the zip file. Directly.

3. CSS Attribute problem
They got a complaint that it would be a lot easier if they assigned an attribute to the body tag for the different pages - one for the homepage body tag and another for the single-post page. They are adding this and updating the boilerplate design. If you have already submitted your design, this would not affect you in anyway.

4. More Entries?
They have got some good to awesome entries but they can always do with more

So, in summary, they are extending the contest by two weeks - and the contest will close for submissions November 14 at 11:59PM.

If you have questions, head on to the Lagos GDG Mailing list and post it there:
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/lagos-gtug/jvOF60ipEko

The Programmes Manager, Google, sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Chukwuemeka Afigbo, speaks with OZIOMA UBABUKOH on the company’s online payments for App developers, among other issues.

Q: Why is Google spending so many resources on its developer initiatives? Why is this group important to you?

A: As you know, the Internet is very important to Google. The web thrives on content: websites, mobile apps as well as a variety of services that enable content creators and service providers like entertainers, bloggers, online newspapers, e-commerce companies, banks and so on get their content and services across to the end user. Software developers play a big role in designing and building the services and platforms that make this possible. One can safely say that without a thriving developer ecosystem, the Internet, as we know today, would not exist. This ecosystem is particularly crucial in African countries like Nigeria where there is an acute deficiency in locally relevant content on the web. Nigerian developers have a big role to play in making the Internet relevant to every Nigerian.

.....

.....more than 50 billion apps have been downloaded from Google so far in about 190 countries across the world. We also try to show developers and tech entrepreneurs how to build a community of loyal users around their products using these platforms.For Monetisation, at Google, we believe that one should not only be able to monetise their innovation but that they should be able to actually go on and build a business from it. This is why we are happy to announce that we recently launched Google Play Merchant payments in Nigeria, which allows Android developers in Nigeria today get paid when users from all over the world download and use their applications.


Q: How will developers now be getting paid for their apps?

A: Payments will be made via wire transfers straight into the accounts of the developers.

Q: We know there is usually a revenue share. What is the revenue share with these app developers?

A: We don’t share details on the terms of our agreements with digital content owners. For Android apps, 70 per cent goes to the app developer and the remaining portion goes to the distribution partner (carrier or OEM) and operating fees.

Read more about this here:
[url]http://www.punchng.com/business/technology/we-now-pay-app-developers-online-google-manager/
[/url]

The Programmes Manager, Google, sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Chukwuemeka Afigbo, speaks with OZIOMA UBABUKOH on the company’s online payments for App developers, among other issues.

Q: Why is Google spending so many resources on its developer initiatives? Why is this group important to you?

A: As you know, the Internet is very important to Google. The web thrives on content: websites, mobile apps as well as a variety of services that enable content creators and service providers like entertainers, bloggers, online newspapers, e-commerce companies, banks and so on get their content and services across to the end user. Software developers play a big role in designing and building the services and platforms that make this possible. One can safely say that without a thriving developer ecosystem, the Internet, as we know today, would not exist. This ecosystem is particularly crucial in African countries like Nigeria where there is an acute deficiency in locally relevant content on the web. Nigerian developers have a big role to play in making the Internet relevant to every Nigerian.

.....

.....more than 50 billion apps have been downloaded from Google so far in about 190 countries across the world. We also try to show developers and tech entrepreneurs how to build a community of loyal users around their products using these platforms.For Monetisation, at Google, we believe that one should not only be able to monetise their innovation but that they should be able to actually go on and build a business from it. This is why we are happy to announce that we recently launched Google Play Merchant payments in Nigeria, which allows Android developers in Nigeria today get paid when users from all over the world download and use their applications.


Q: How will developers now be getting paid for their apps?

A: Payments will be made via wire transfers straight into the accounts of the developers.

Q: We know there is usually a revenue share. What is the revenue share with these app developers?

A: We don’t share details on the terms of our agreements with digital content owners. For Android apps, 70 per cent goes to the app developer and the remaining portion goes to the distribution partner (carrier or OEM) and operating fees.

Read more about this here:
[url]http://www.punchng.com/business/technology/we-now-pay-app-developers-online-google-manager/
[/url]

Here at Google, we always put the user first, and for the Developer Platform team, our developers are our users. We want to create the best development platform and provide the support you need to build world-changing apps, but we need to hear from you, our users, on a regular basis so we can see what’s working and what needs to change.

That's why we're launching our developer survey -- we want to hear about how you are using our APIs and platforms, and what your experience is using our developer products and services. We'll use your responses to identify how we can support you better in your development efforts.

The survey should only take 10 to 15 minutes of your time, and in addition to helping us improve our products, you can also help raise money to educate children around the globe. For every developer who completes the survey, we will donate $10 USD (up to a maximum amount of $20,000USD total) to your choice of one of these six education-focused organizations: Khan Academy, World Fund, Donors Choose, Girl Rising, Raspberry Pi, and Agastya.

find more details here:
http://googledevelopers..com/2014/09/tell-us-about-your-experience-building.html

The User Interface Competition
Show off your design skills!



How good are you with CSS3?
Take up the CSS-only design challenge and create an amazing layout with CSS alone for a chance to show off your creativity and Win a Moto 360 Watch.

Why?
There is a continuing need to show the power of CSS.
This challenge aims to excite, inspire, and encourage participation.
With our predefined HTML file, can you use CSS only to create an awesome layout?

Yes. The HTML should remain the same, the only thing that you can change is the external CSS file.

And

Internet users are accessing content from so many different devices, with mobile accounting for the highest.
We must learn to take mobile very seriously and focus creating a intuitive, fast-loading and robust interfaces to this content on mobile devices.

This is why the Lagos Google Developer Group is running this contest.

There are 2 Moto 360 Watches up for grabs.

You can find more details here:
http://lagos.gdg.ng/events/mg1/contest.html

Sorry that I am posting this in two categories but I feel this is also relevant to this forum:

Are you intrigued by the rapidly-growing world of user experience design? Do you wonder how good design can gain users for your technology/software products? Are you passionate about giving your users the experience they deserve? Are you looking to meet and connect with other design enthusiasts? Yes? Then please read on.

This October, designers from the UX team at Google will be visiting Sub-Saharan Africa to conduct a 2-day, hands-on user experience masterclass in Cape Town, Nairobi and Lagos. Attendees at the masterclass will learn the process of taking an idea from concept to launch, including sketching, user testing, prototyping, and the importance of making continuous improvements to keep your users engaged and satisfied. The masterclass will cover interaction and visual design patterns including Material Design. The masterclass will be conducted in collaboration with Flow Interactive (Cape Town), the iHub (Nairobi) and the Pan Atlantic University (Lagos).

This masterclass is suitable for anyone with a passion for creating outstanding user experiences, regardless of whether you are a software developer, product manager, web designer or user experience designer. If you will be in any of the above cities early in October then you should consider applying for one of the limited seats at the Google User Experience Masterclass using the following links for Lagos, Cape Town and Nairobi. Applications close on September 22nd 2014


Follow this link to apply
http://google-africa..com/2014/09/growing-user-experience-community-in.html

Are you intrigued by the rapidly-growing world of user experience design? Do you wonder how good design can gain users for your technology/software products? Are you passionate about giving your users the experience they deserve? Are you looking to meet and connect with other design enthusiasts? Yes? Then please read on.

This October, designers from the UX team at Google will be visiting Sub-Saharan Africa to conduct a 2-day, hands-on user experience masterclass in Cape Town, Nairobi and Lagos. Attendees at the masterclass will learn the process of taking an idea from concept to launch, including sketching, user testing, prototyping, and the importance of making continuous improvements to keep your users engaged and satisfied. The masterclass will cover interaction and visual design patterns including Material Design. The masterclass will be conducted in collaboration with Flow Interactive (Cape Town), the iHub (Nairobi) and the Pan Atlantic University (Lagos).

This masterclass is suitable for anyone with a passion for creating outstanding user experiences, regardless of whether you are a software developer, product manager, web designer or user experience designer. If you will be in any of the above cities early in October then you should consider applying for one of the limited seats at the Google User Experience Masterclass using the following links for Lagos, Cape Town and Nairobi. Applications close on September 22nd 2014


Follow this link to apply
http://google-africa..com/2014/09/growing-user-experience-community-in.html

A lot of people have varying opinions on the usefulness of hackathons, codelabs and developer contests.
In this article, I try to give my own point on view on these topics.
http://blonks-nkeise..com/2014/07/codelabs-and-hackathons-and-contests-oh.html

Airtel just announced a 1 Million Naira cash prize to the best Nigerian Apps in the on going Google Cloud Developer Challenge.
You can find more information on this link: http:///xZxILbDcpv.
[img]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BYPYcVHCYAALUQn.jpg:large[/img]

PHP is supported on Google App Engine.
Just take a look at
https://developers.google.com/appengine/docs/php/

Last week Google launched a contest targeted at Cloud Developers.
You can find more details about the contest here:
http://www.google.com/events/gcdc2013/

Grand prize is $20,000 for two winners from Africa


All you have to do is build and submit an amazing application in one of these categories:
Enterprise/Small Business Solutions , Education, Not for Profit
Social / Personal Productivity/Games / Fun

You can develop applications on the Google Cloud Platform using any of Python, Java, PHP and Go programming languages.

There are also special prizes for students and female developers!
Submission window opens in a months time.

Last year a Nigerian team from Unilag won one of the grand prizes.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/11/team-unilag-wins-google-application-contest/

I wrote a blog post on this.
curious about your thoughts:
http://blonks-nkeise..com/2013/04/no-techies-on-front-page.html

The Deadline for the Google Apps Developer Challenge is 23:59 Pacific Time .
There is still time to submit your app.
see http://www.google.com/events/gadc2012 for details
follow the excitement on [url]https://plus.google.com/s/%23gappschallenge[/url]

For those who can attend, there will be a Google Plus Hangout where there will be question and answers about key aspects of the submissions process.:
Check out the link below:
https://developers.google.com/events/ahNzfmdvb2dsZS1kZXZlbG9wZXJzcg4LEgVFdmVudBiPmJ4DDA/

The Submission window is officially open.
24 days left to win $20,000 , Chrome books and other awesome prizes.

http://googleappsdeveloper..com/2012/07/time-to-wow-judges-google-apps.html

If you are developing an app for submission to the Google Apps Developer Challenge, then you should be interested in these updates from the latest edition of Google IO.
These very important updates are contained in this link: https://plus.google.com/103703210853891175248/posts/aAA1EkL8EC4
It will come in very handy as you brush up your apps for the challenge where to stand to win up to $20,000 USD

Google Just launched a competition for developers.
African developers stand the chance to win up to $20k and Chrome Books.
There are also special prizes for students and female developers.
http://lagosgtug..de/2012/06/game-on-google-apps-developer-challenge.html

Two Nigerian apps were among 5 apps featured on the Global Google Developer blog yesterday.
read more here:
http://googledevelopers..com/2012/04/african-developers-finding-success-with.html

More and more developers are finding success using Google tools and and APIs

http://google-africa..de/2012/04/african-developers-finding-success-with.html

What are your thoughts on the topic addressed in this blog post?
http://blonks-nkeise..de/2012/04/no-old-bold-developers.html?showComment=1334129832343

See details here:
http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/11/14/nigerian-ict-advocate-gbenga-sesan-to-host-google-plus-hangout-with-finalists-of-the-2011-android-developers-challenge/

You can post your questions to the ADC winners here:

http:///qCfi5

Hello All,
This is just to remind you that you can still follow the Lagos Google Technology User Group in any one (or all) of the following ways:
[list]
[li]Join our mailing list at http://groups.google.com/group/lagos-gtug [/li]
[li] Visit our Website at http://sites.google.com/site/lagosgtug/[/li]
[li] Visit our blog at http://lagosgtug..com/[/li]
[li] Follow us on Twitter at @gtuglagos[/li]

[/list]
Joining the Lagos Google technology User group is a great way to stay abreast of the latest Google Technologies and the latest Google events in Lagos and its environs.

See you there!

Please what are your thoughts on the content management of the NITDA website (http://www.nitda.gov.ng) ?